Community Fund for Canada s 150th Guide for Community Foundations, 02.10.2016 Contents Getting Started... 2 1.1 Why 2017?... 2 1.2 About the Community Fund for Canada s 150th... 2 1.3 What are the Objectives of the Community Fund for Canada s 150th?... 2 1.4 What is the vision of the Fund?... 3 1.5 How community foundations can be involved... 3 The Granting Process... 5 1.1 Reference Levels for Matching... 5 1.2 Grant amounts... 5 1.3 Grant review process and timelines... 6 1.4 The Fund s Review Platform... 7 Eligibility Criteria... 8 1.1 Eligible Recipients... 8 1.2 Eligible projects... 8 1.3 Eligible Expenditures... 10 1.4 Granting Guidelines - Scoring Criteria... 10 Resources and Materials... 11 1.1 Application Form... 11 1.2 Grant Agreement... 11 1.3 Acknowledgement Guidelines... 11 Public Engagement... 11 1.1 Community leadership... 11 1.3 Getting your donors and partners on board... 12 1.4 Communications and marketing... 12 1.4 Storytelling... 13 Appendix - Launch Kit If you have any questions that are not answered in the Guide, please contact cfc150@communityfoundations.ca.
Getting Started 1.1 Why 2017? In 2017, Canada will mark the 150 th anniversary of confederation an historic moment with the power to bring people and places together as we dream big about what our communities and our country could be. It s a chance to encourage all Canadians to contribute to their communities in a way that will foster a greater sense of belonging, support meaningful reconciliation and leave a lasting legacy now and for future generations. Community Foundations of Canada has come together with the participation of the Government of Canada and private and philanthropic partners with a vision to make the most of Canada s 150th anniversary of confederation in communities from coast to coast to coast. 1.2 About the Community Fund for Canada s 150th The Community Fund for Canada s 150th is a national initiative that is based on multi-sector leverage and matching dollars. The Fund is a collaborative effort delivered by community foundations and with participation from the Government of Canada, private and philanthropic partners, and other community leaders. Community foundations in all parts of Canada will have the opportunity to participate. To get involved, community foundations will be required to lead local grantmaking under the Fund s requirements and guidelines, and to match (1:1) granting dollars from the Fund, up to their allocation from the Fund. The Fund will provide thousands of small grants to community organizations across the country to activate a groundswell of local action and new relationships that will build vibrant communities for future generations. The Fund will be available to communities from coast to coast to coast, with the broadest possible engagement of all Canadians including indigenous peoples, youth, ethno-culturally diverse groups, and official language minority groups. 1.3 What are the Objectives of the Community Fund for Canada s 150th? Under the Fund, community foundations have an opportunity to make Canada s 150 th a moment for community and for Canada, by granting to projects that: BUILD vibrant and healthy communities with the broadest possible engagement of all Canadians, including indigenous peoples, groups that reflect our pluralism, official language minorities, and youth.
INSPIRE a deeper understanding about the people, places and events that shape our communities and our country. ENCOURAGE participation in community initiatives, activities and events to mark the 150 th anniversary of confederation. 1.4 What is the vision of the Fund? Through thousands of initiatives from all parts of Canada, community foundations have an opportunity to unlock community potential through 2017 and beyond, creating: BELONGING. Greater engagement and sense of belonging to our communities and our country. INCLUSION. Inclusion of Canadians from all walks of life. RECONCILIATION. Meaningful reconciliation between Indigenous peoples and all Canadians CONNECTION. Stronger connection and support within and between our communities. CFC will coordinate the Fund s activity on the national scale, and will share its success stories, impact, and legacy with the public. 1.5 How community foundations can be involved As local champions and philanthropic leaders, Canada s 191 community foundations are invited to play a key role in the fund s rollout and implementation. The Community Fund for Canada s 150th will match dollars that your community foundation grants towards inspiring and engaging initiatives that align with the Fund s criteria, timeframes, and roll-out details. Each community foundation that chooses to participate will be required to: Communicate the opportunity within their community and direct applicants to the Fund s webpage and application form; Review, and select Projects through the Fund s review platform by applying the Fund s eligibility Match (1:1) dollars from the Community Fund for Canada s 150th for local grants, and deliver the grants to approved Projects; Uphold the Community Fund for Canada s 150th Grant Agreement, a document that will be signed by a representative of each approved Project; Follow the Acknowledgement Guidelines when referring to the Fund. Participating community foundations are also asked to consider applications from communities that we don t currently serve but wish to see grow under the goal of reaching 100% of Canadians.
Each community foundation has received notice of a reference level of the amount from the Fund that the community foundation could match. This reference level is intended as a guide to help community foundations plan for local granting. By participating with the Fund, community foundations have an opportunity to showcase community leadership, by: Increasing community impact Leading on issues that matter to our communities Building new local and regional relationships Raising local profile and awareness To participate, community foundations are asked to fill out the Collaborative Agreement.
The Granting Process 1.1 Reference Levels for Matching Each community foundation has received notice of a reference level of the amount from the Fund that the community foundation could match. This reference level is intended as a guide to help community foundations plan for local granting. This reference level from the Fund and the match from your community foundation are just a starting point. We encourage you to also think about the many other local relationships, partnerships, and strategies that your community foundation could activate to make 2017 truly a moment for community and for Canada. 1.2 Grant amounts Under this initiative, community foundations may approve grants that are valued up to a maximum of $15,000 each. As the Community Fund for Canada s 150th is based on matching dollars, each grant approved by community foundations would be made up of two parts. For example, a $15,000 grant could look as follows: The total cost of a project could be greater than $15,000, but grants connected with the Fund are limited to that amount. The remaining cost could be separately covered by a community foundation or other sources.
A smaller grants could look like this: 1.3 Grant review process and timelines Under the fund, the granting cycle will involve six steps, which are further explained below: Step 1: Participating community foundations will promote the opportunity locally, and community organizations will apply through the application on the Review Platform. Step 2: Community foundations will log into the Review Platform during the CF Review Period to review and approve grant applications from their community. Step 3: A national committee will ensure approved applications meet the fund s grant guidelines; Step 4: CFC will transfer the match for the approved grants to the participating community foundation; Step 5: By adding the CF match for the grants, community foundations will distribute the grants locally. Step 6: Grant recipients join the 150Alliance to share their project plans and success stories.
Community foundations can use new or existing granting streams to match the allocation from the Fund. There are three opportunities to participate in the Fund and implement the above steps: Public calls for applications (4 weeks) CF Review Period (~4 weeks) National Review Committee (~1 week) Grant Approvals signed, cheques to CFs for granting April 2016 May 2016 June 2016 June 2016 September - October 2016 January - February 2017 October - November 2016 February - March 2017 November 2016 December 2016 March 2017 April 2017 1.4 The Fund s Review Platform Fund activity will be conducted and coordinated through the Review Platform, which will host all applications to the Fund under one application form. To be eligible for matching from the central Fund, grant applications must come through this digital platform. Within the platform, the staff, grant review committee, and/or Board of each community foundation will be able to: Receive grant applications from their community or region Review applications with their grant committee Identify successful applications CFC will provide community foundations with webinars, videos, and other support to ensure that the digital platform is accessible to all those who use it.
Eligibility Criteria 1.1 Eligible Recipients The Community Fund for Canada s 150th is available to all qualified donees, with the exception of those operating outside of Canada; federal, provincial and territorial governments; the United Nations and its agencies; and the Crown. Qualified donees eligible for grants recipients include: registered charities registered national arts services organizations registered Canadian amateur athletic associations registered housing corporations in Canada that provide only low-cost housing for the elderly registered Canadian Municipalities; registered municipal or public bodies performing a function of government in Canada other Canadian qualified donees Ineligible recipients The following are ineligible as grant recipients under the fund: Organizations operating outside of Canada Federal, provincial, or territorial governments The United Nations and its agencies The Crown Can organizations other than qualified donee apply? Community groups and other actors are welcome to create projects and apply in collaboration with charitable organizations or other qualified donees. 1.2 Eligible projects The following eligibility criteria apply: 1) Projects must be focused on the Fund s objectives, that is, to: BUILD vibrant and healthy communities with the broadest possible engagement of all Canadians, including indigenous peoples, groups that reflect our pluralism, official language minorities, and youth. INSPIRE a deeper understanding about the people, places and events that shape our communities and our country.
ENCOURAGE participation in community initiatives, activities and events to mark Canada's 150 th anniversary of Confederation. A wide range of projects can work towards the Fund s goals: Celebratory or commemorative activities and events; Community building initiatives, activities and events; Sport and active-living activities and events; Learning materials and activities; Exhibits; Documentary films; Artistic projects and initiatives; Environmental stewardship initiatives. 2) Projects must be committed to completing grant-related activities before January 31, 2018 3) Projects must demonstrate an ability to match (cash or in-kind) the value of the grant requested. For example, a project requesting a $10,000 grant must be able to make an in-kind or cash contribution of $10,000. In-kind contributions may include, but are not limited to: Volunteer hours Donated professional services Other services Rental equipment or use of space Each project can receive a maximum of one grant; a recipient may have multiple successful projects. Ineligible projects The following describe projects that are ineligible for funding: those that have already received funding from the Government of Canada (federal government) those related to political activities or lobbying; projects that are designed for fundraising purposes; projects deemed controversial, dismissive, or offensive; ongoing activities such as the publication of regular issues of newsletters, magazines and periodicals; any activity taking place outside Canada. Community foundations may make additional eligibility guidelines, these must be made publically available when announcing the local call for applications.
1.3 Eligible Expenditures When reviewing applications, community foundations are asked to ensure that approved grants only cover eligible expenditures. Eligible expenditures include reasonable and essential expenditures to undertake and carry out a project. Examples include: Equipment rental; Promotional products and publicity expenditures; Reasonable salaries and benefits or professional fees related specifically to project activities, for example: project coordination and implementation, event management, production, translation, Web design and project-related research. Ineligible expenditures Please be aware that the following expenditures are considered ineligible: Expenditures that have already been incurred at the time of application; Project expenditures that have been or are funded by institutions of the federal government; Expenditures made after January 31, 2018; 1.4 Granting Guidelines - Scoring Criteria Participating community foundations are strongly encouraged to consider all applications to the Fund from their catchment area. Community foundations will review applications through the Review Platform, using the Fund s Scoring Criteria.This criteria will be applied within the Review Platform. This system will have two types of criteria: 1. Required Criteria Eligibility criteria that all projects must fully meet. 2. Community Impact Criteria - Projects must meet 3 of the following 6 criteria:. a. The project engages at least one of the following groups: Indigenous peoples Groups that reflect Canadian cultural diversity Francophones outside of Quebec Anglophones within Quebec Youth b. The project engages a significant number of community members c. The project is for public benefit or participation (a community art project, a free concert, a piece of infrastructure, etc.) d. The project has a legacy beyond 2017 e. The project marks Canada's 150th in a manner that addresses a community need f. The project is a collaboration between multiple community actors
Resources and Materials 1.1 Application Form All applications to the Fund will be made through one, central application that will be hosted on the Review Platform. A sample of the application is coming soon. 1.2 Grant Agreement All approved projects will be subject to the Community Fund for Canada s 150th Grant Agreement, which will be signed digitally. A preview of this grant agreement is available here. 1.3 Acknowledgement Guidelines All public-facing materials and references to the Fund, as well as those created by funded projects, will adhere to the Acknowledgement Guidelines. Public Engagement 1.1 Community leadership Canada s 191 community foundations have an important leadership role to play in communicating about the fund, generating engagement at the local level and supporting activities that build community. By spreading the word about Canada s 150th and connecting local charitable organizations and projects to the funding opportunity available, community foundations will be at the centre of 2017 action across the country. The result will be increased awareness about community foundations, as well as a wave of public engagement, new relationships and local projects that will live on in your community for generations.
Any communications about the community fund for Canada s 150th starts first with your staff and Board members before reaching out to the broader public. Use the resources provided in the following chapters to start a discussion within your organization and spread the word locally. 1.2 Getting your Board on board Strong leadership and active participation of Board members are a key part of what makes a community foundation thrive. Having the right mix of committed and knowledgeable community leaders at the Board table can also help you leverage new opportunities, such as the community fund for Canada s 150th. Getting your Board on board can take some careful nurturing, but with the right encouragement and resources to frame the opportunity and start a conversation, you ll be ready to make the most of 2017. Some questions to begin a conversation internally with your Board may include: How can we play a leadership role in bringing the community together around Canada s 150th? How can we leverage 2017 and this funding opportunity to generate greater awareness for our foundation and engagement within our community? How can we support local charities and other qualified donees to apply for funding? How could we use this opportunity to increase our community impact? How might this align with our current granting streams? Are there partners in the community that might want to amplify this opportunity and provide further matches? Are there other organizations in our region with whom we might want to collaborate? 1.3 Getting your donors and partners on board Coming soon 1.4 Communications and marketing With your Board, donors and partners on side, you ll want to start thinking next about when, where and how to communicate about the Community fund for Canada s 150th with your network of community organizations, partners and champions. Your foundation will likely already have a schedule and channels for sharing funding opportunities with your community, so there s no need to reinvent the wheel. Choose to communicate about the fund at a time that works best with your foundation s activities - this may be at the start of a new granting cycle or during a community event or via ongoing engagement on social media. There are of course various ways to share the announcement with your community. Here are just a few ideas:
Website or blog post News release Monthly e-newsletter or email Social media on Facebook and Twitter Community bulletins Community event, presentation or speech Media interview with local newspaper, radio or television Digital or print advertising Use the following content to help you craft your message and spread the word about the funding opportunity connected to Canada s 150th in your community or region. E-newsletter sample Coming soon Social media - Facebook Coming soon... Social media - Twitter Coming soon Website banner ads Coming soon Photos and video Coming soon 1.4 Storytelling As part of our ongoing engagement strategy around the Community Fund for Canada s 150th, we will be collecting stories from communities across the country that showcase the spirit of our sesquicentennial in action. These stories will be shared online and through social media, highlighting the impact of our community foundation movement and the work of community organizations from coast to coast to coast. Community foundations can contribute to this historic moment by being storytellers, shining a spotlight on local activity through their own communications and by sharing stories with Community Foundations of Canada to profile on a national stage. Together we will elevate community-building projects connected to Canada s 150 th, create a national narrative, and inspire community action through 2017 and beyond.
Community Fund for Canada s 150 th LAUNCH KIT The following materials will assist you in the launch of the Community Fund for Canada's 150th. The national launch is scheduled for March 14, 11:30am EST. This content is EMBARGOED until that time, please do not share any news about the Fund publicly until 11:30am EST. The content is broken out into sections, and your community foundation can pick and choose the content that is relevant for your website. Feel free to modify this content (the highlighted sections in particular) to reflect the unique way that your community foundation is participating in this national initiative, while keeping in mind the Fund s requirements and timeframes. Depending on which cycle(s) your community foundation is participating in, you may choose to announce your participation in the Fund as the same time as CFC, and/or later on in the year. Social Media Messaging... 2 Sample Website Content... 3 FAQ (for your website)... 3 Who can apply?... 3 What kinds of projects are eligible for funding?... 4 When can I apply?... 5 How do I apply?... 5 Draft Media Release... 6
Social Media Messaging Use these sample tweets and Facebook posts to share news about the Fund after Monday, March 14 at 11:30am ET. Please use #CFC150 for all of your tweets. Twitter.@CommFdnsCanada just announced #CFC150 - a new community fund for #Canada150: http://ow.ly/ywbmp We re excited to participate in #CFC150 - a new community fund for #Canada150. Find out how and when to apply: http://ow.ly/ywbmp Planning a community project for #Canada150? Find out how to apply to the new #CFC150 fund: http://ow.ly/ywbmp Facebook We re pleased to be participating in the Community Fund for Canada s 150th, a small grants program run by community foundations to support local initiatives related to Canada s sesquicentennial. For more details on the Fund and to learn how and when to apply, visit: http://www.communityfoundations.ca/cfc150 (or community foundation website). Community Foundations of Canada just announced their new Community Fund for Canada s 150th - a national small grants program that will provide thousands of grants to initiatives related to Canada s sesquicentennial at the local level. Learn more by visiting http://ow.ly/ywbmp, and stay tuned for how [Name of CF] will be taking part.
Sample Website Content Below is some sample website content to help community foundations share information about the Fund on your own website. We have highlighted the areas where you may want to include more community-level details. Keep in mind that all applications to the Community Fund for Canada s 150thFund will be run through a central application form, available at http://www.communityfoundations.ca/cfc150 About FAQ Who can apply? What kind of projects are eligible for funding? When can I apply? How do I apply? About the Community Fund for Canada s 150th Canada s sesquicentennial is an historic moment with the power to bring people and places together as we dream big about our communities and our country. In the spirit of this moment, the Community Fund for Canada s 150th will activate a breathtaking array of ideas and activities that will bring out the best that Canada has to offer, now and for future generations. The Community Fund for Canada s 150th is a small grants program that will support community initiatives from coast to coast to coast. The Fund is a collaboration between Canada s community foundations, the Government of Canada, and extraordinary leaders from coast to coast to coast. The Fund is based on grassroots leadership, and will take on a local focus and timeline in each community. For more information on the involvement of <<community foundation name>> in the Community Fund for Canada s 150th, contact FAQ (for your website) Who can apply? The Community Fund for Canada s 150th is available to qualified donees operating within Canada, with the exception of the federal, provincial, and territorial governments; the United Nations, and the Crown. Community groups and other actors are welcome to work with a qualified donee to make an application to the Fund. In the case of such a collaboration, the qualified donee would submit the application and act as a fiscal agent on behalf of the collaborating parties.
Check the Canada Revenue Agency Charities Listing, and List of Other Qualified Donees to find potential partners in your community they may be interested in collaborating on your project! What kinds of projects are eligible for funding? In collaboration with the Community Fund for Canada s 150th, <<community foundation>> will consider applications for grants of up to $xx (maximum is $15,000) from projects that meet the following eligibility criteria: A. Eligible projects must be based in Canada, and must work towards the Fund s objectives, to: ENCOURAGE participation in community activities and events to mark Canada's 150th anniversary of Confederation; INSPIRE a deeper understanding about the people, places and events that shape our country and our communities; or BUILD vibrant and healthy communities with the broadest possible engagement of all Canadians, including indigenous peoples; groups that reflect our cultural diversity; youth; and official language minorities. B. Eligible projects are required to match the grant requested, through in-kind or cash contributions equal to the value of the grant. For example, an applicant that requests a $2,000 grant for a project would be required to come to the table with $2,000 worth of cash or in-kind support for their own project. Cash contributions may come from other funding sources; in-kind contributions may include volunteer hours or other resources that are not covered by the requested grant. C. Eligible projects must commit to performing funded activities and expenditures between the date that the grant is approved and before January 31, 2018. In addition to the above criteria, <<Community Foundation>> will be looking to grant to the following projects: [Indicate here any local priorities you will be granting to, such as projects that engage youth, etc.] Please note that the following projects will be ineligible for funding: Projects related to political activities or lobbying Projects that are designed for fundraising purposes Projects deemed controversial, dismissive, or offensive Ongoing activities, such as the publication of regular issues of newsletters, magazines and periodicals Any activity taking place outside Canada Projects that are funded in whole or in part by the Government of Canada
When can I apply? <<Community foundation>> will be accepting applications for the Community Fund for Canada s 150th during the following application period: <<insert one of the following>> April 2016 September - October 2016 January - February 2017 How do I apply? Apply to the Community Foundation by clicking through the link below: APPLY HERE (link to http://www.communityfoundations.ca/cfc150) The information gathered through the application process will not be made public, and will be shared with community foundations and the Government of Canada exclusively for purposes related to the Fund.
Draft Media Release New Community Fund for Canada s 150th builds community and encourages participation for the sesquicentennial NEWS RELEASE (Ottawa, ON) March 14, 2016 A new collaboration for Canada s 150th anniversary of Confederation is bringing people and places together to build community and activate a groundswell of local initiatives, activities, and events. The Community Fund for Canada s 150th is a collaboration led by Community Foundations of Canada and the national network of 191 community foundations, with the support of the Government of Canada and leaders from coast to coast to coast. The Fund will engage Canadians from all walks of life in a wide range of local projects that build community, inspire a deeper understanding of Canada, and encourage participation in a wide range of initiatives that mark Canada s 150th anniversary of Confederation. The Fund will be responsive to local priorities and will be accessible to all Canadians, including indigenous peoples, youth, groups that reflect our cultural diversity, and official language minority groups. Canada s 150th is an historic moment with the power to strengthen our communities and our connection to one another. The collaborative Community Fund for Canada s 150th will spark thousands of initiatives and activities that bring out the best that Canada has to offer, said Ian Bird, President of Community Foundations of Canada. The Fund will encourage all Canadians to contribute to their communities in a way that fosters a greater sense of belonging, inclusion, and reconciliation, leaving a lasting legacy for our communities and our country. [Local details about the Fund]: In <<community name>> <<insert local details: timeline for local applications, any community focus, quote from local CF leader, etc.>>. For more information, please visit <<CF website>> or http://www.communityfoundations.ca/cfc150. About [Community Foundation Name] Description About Community Foundations of Canada Community Foundations of Canada is the national network for Canada s 191 community foundations. Together we help Canadians invest in building strong and resilient places to live, work and play. Learn more at communityfoundations.ca. -
For more information: JP Bervoets Vice President, Partnerships and Public Engagement Community Foundations of Canada Tel: +1 (416) 319-8111 Email: jbervoets@communityfoundations.ca Twitter: @CommFdnsCanada